Photo: BSSBAGERHAT, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) – Members of the Coast Guard seized a large quantity of Indian liquor here in the early hours of today. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Kaikhali Coast Guard conducted a raid at Chunkuri Canal under Shyamnagar Police Station at 3 am, and seized 50 bottles of foreign liquor, said Lieutenant Commander Md. Muntasir Ibne Mohsin, Media Officer of Coast Guard West Zone. However, the smugglers managed to flee the scene upon sensing the presence of the Coast Guard.

ALGIERS, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Algeria's parliament is set to vote on Wednesday on a law declaring France's colonisation of the country a "state crime", and demanding an apology and reparations. The proposed law "is a sovereign act", parliament speaker Brahim Boughali was quoted by the APS state news agency as saying. France's colonisation of Algeria from 1830 until 1962 remains a sore spot in relations between the two countries. Algeria says the war killed 1.5 million people, while French historians put the death toll lower at 500,000 in total, 400,000 of them Algerian. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously acknowledged the colonisation of Algeria as a "crime against humanity", but has stopped short of offering an apology.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana virtually addressed a training workshop. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana here today said the government employees should know the laws for consolidating the administrative foundations of the state. To clearly understand which demands are legitimate and which are not, one must know the laws, she said. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana said the government employees should perform their duties under the legal framework. Secretary Mahbuba Farjana also urged the information officers to work as an innovative team.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. During this long absence of Tarique Rahman, the country's political landscape was extremely hostile and shrouded in darkness. Defying geographical distance, through his organizational wisdom, Tarique Rahman maintained direct connections from the party's central committee down to the marginal grassroots workers. The homecoming of Tarique Rahman will bring a positive change and a fresh breeze to the country's political culture. Bearing this sky-high expectation of the common people, Tarique Rahman today has taken his seat as a national leader of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh sets new global benchmark in green manufacturing with record LEED certifications in 2025DHAKA, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - In 2025, Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry reached a historic milestone in sustainable manufacturing, securing 38 new LEED-certified green factories, the highest number achieved in any single year to date. This remarkable accomplishment further strengthens Bangladesh’s position as the undisputed global leader in environmentally responsible apparel production, said industry insiders. Of the 38 newly certified factories, 22 achieved the prestigious LEED Platinum rating, while 11 received Gold and 5 achieved Silver certification. With these additions, Bangladesh now hosts 270 LEED-certified green garment factories, including 114 Platinum and 137 Gold facilities, the highest concentration of top-tier LEED factories anywhere in the world. “The progress achieved in 2025 shows that Bangladesh is not only ready for this transition, but is already leading it,” he added.

DHAKA, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - In a determined effort to familiarize tenderers and procuring entities with the newly enacted Public Procurement Rules, 2025 (PPR, 2025), the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) conducted two awareness workshops, first at Ukhiya Upazila and the second in Cox’s Bazar district sadar today. The workshops were held in a bid to comprehensively outlining the key provisions, innovations and compliance requirements of PPR, 2025. Elaborating on the importance of the PPR, 2025, he said the PPR, 2025 is very important to ensure transparency, efficiency and competition in the process of public procurement. M. A. Mannan, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate presided over the session in the conference room of his office in Cox’s Bazar. In both the workshops, Eyamin in his presentations highlighted various aspects of the newly enacted PPR, 2025.

DHAKA, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken extensive nationwide security measures to ensure the peaceful celebration of Christmas tomorrow. The force has deployed additional forces, enhanced intelligence surveillance, and strengthened patrols across metropolitan cities, districts and upazilas from December 23 last, said a press release of the force. RAB is also monitoring cyberspace round the clock to prevent rumors and communal provocation, ensuring legal action against offenders. CCTV surveillance, volunteer support, and preventive measures against harassment of women have been reinforced. Special security arrangements are in place for foreign diplomats, VIPs, and Christian community leaders, along with protection of key national installations.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Rumin Farhana has collected nomination papers for Brahmanbaria-2 to contest the parliamentary polls as an independent candidate. The seat has been ceded by her party to its alliance partner Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh. Sarail Upazila Jubo Dal’s former organising secretary Ali Hossain collected the nomination papers from the office of the Upazila administrator on behalf of the former BNP lawmaker Rumin on Wednesday afternoon. Several hundred activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations appeared in support of Rumin during the purchase of her nomination papers. In Brahmanbaria-2, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam has nominated its central committee Joint Secretary General Junaid Al Habib as its candidate.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today chaired the weekly meeting of the Council of Advisers at his office in Dhaka. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - The Council of Advisers today gave final approval to the Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, introducing wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving service quality, strengthening regulation, and preventing misuse of surveillance power. The approval came from a regular weekly meeting of the Council with Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus in the chair at his office in Tejgaon . To ensure accountability, the amendment establishes a quasi-judicial council and parliamentary oversight mechanisms. The amendment had earlier received in-principle approval on November 20 and was subsequently reviewed by the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, and Planning before receiving final approval at today’s Advisory Council meeting.

Collected photoMOSCOW, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Two police officers were killed in an overnight explosion in Moscow when they tried to stop a suspicious person, Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement Wednesday. The blast occurred close to the site where a Russian general was killed earlier this week. The blast took place near where Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed on Monday by an explosive device that had been placed under his parked car. Sarvarov had been the head of the Russian General Staff's training department. In a statement, the GUR source said the attack was carried out by a "local resident" and did not claim to have been involved.

According to the plan, Tarique Rahman will depart London’s Heathrow Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. To minimise public inconvenience and traffic congestion in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman alone will speak at the reception, said Salahuddin. On Friday, following the Jummah prayers, Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. On Saturday, Tarique Rahman will be formally registered as a voter. Tarique Rahman was arrested during the caretaker government in 2007 and spent around 18 months in prison.

Collected photoLONDON, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is relishing the prospect of knocking former club Chelsea out of the League Cup following his key role in a penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace. The Gunners went through to the semi-finals on Tuesday after Kepa saved Maxence Lacroix's spot-kick in a dramatic 8-7 shootout success following a 1-1 draw with Palace at the Emirates Stadium. Kepa, who has made all three of his Arsenal appearances so far in the League Cup, said: "Right now, if you want a trophy, and that's something that we want, we have to fight against good teams. "We've conceded in a couple of games in the last minute so it's something that we have to look at," said Kepa, deputising for Arsenal first-choice keeper David Raya. They kept us in the game, and they gave me an opportunity to make a save.

International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday ordered commencement of trial against four people including ex-BGB officer Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam in connection with the killing of 28 people in Rampura during July-August Movement. The three-member tribunal led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder framed charges against them and passed the order. The other accused are ex-BGB Major Md Rafat Bin Alam, additional deputy commissioner of DMP Khilgaon zone Rashedul Islam and former officer-in-charge of Rampura police station Mashiur Rahman. Among them Major Rafat was produced before the court from Dhaka Cantonment sub-jail. According to the prosecution, 28 people were killed and several others injured in Rampura area by members of law enforcement agencies during the July uprising.

BNP has reached an electoral understanding with seven more alliance partners of the anti-fascist movement, leaving eight parliamentary seats for them for the upcoming national election. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the list at a press conference at the party Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Wednesday afternoon. Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque will contest from Dhaka-12, and Ganosanghati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki from Brahmanbaria-6. Earlier on Tuesday, the party announced to leave four seats for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Of the remaining 28 seats, four were allocated to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh on Tuesday, while eight more seats were allocated to other alliance partners on Wednesday.

A group of influential United States lawmakers has urged Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure that the upcoming national election in February is free, fair, and inclusive, warning that the exclusion of major political actors could undermine democratic legitimacy. The lawmakers serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on South and Central Asia. The move has sparked debate both domestically and internationally over its potential impact on political pluralism and electoral credibility. In the letter, the lawmakers underscored the importance of creating conditions that allow citizens to peacefully express their political will through the ballot box. “Freedom of association, as well as the principle of individual rather than collective criminal responsibility, are fundamental human rights,” the lawmakers wrote.